Beer adds fresh twists to this season’s cocktails

Photo: Mix up a hot summer day with the North High Jalalima Beergarita; photo: Hayley Fudge

By Hayley Fudge

Long gone are the short days that require a solid stout to end a cold evening. Let barley-wines be bygones. Summer is now upon us.

‘Tis the season for lighter beers, many with low ABVs for all-day consumption, bursting with fresh, fruity flavors. These bright, crisp brews fill local retail shelves and establishment taps; cans beg to be cracked poolside or onboard a kayak or canoe, and growlers show up at every cookout.

In recent years, beer intermingled with liquors and other well-known cocktail mixers has been trending on the menus of progressive brewpubs and inventive breweries. Dayton’s Toxic Brew Company has a few such offerings on the menu board, appealing to beer geeks and atypical consumers alike. From margarita-inspired beer drinks to champagne’s lower-maintenance sister, beermosa, beer cocktails are game-changers.

I challenge you to up your summer beer game to the next level by crafting some beer cocktails. These inspired, refreshing options will bring new life to your summer gatherings—and may even make a beer hater love the suds.

Here are six recipes—all made with Ohio beers—to help you usher in the sun and warmth of the coming months. (Note: the most important thing isn’t the brand of beer, but rather the style—any substitute of the same style should work just fine.)

About Hayley Fudge

Hayley Fudge is one of Dayton City Paper’s Resident Beer Geeks. An enthusiast of craft beer and the culture that surrounds it, Hayley aspires to share her love of beer with others by whipping up beer-infused cupcakes on the regular. Reach Hayley Fudge at HayleyFudge@DaytonCityPaper.com.